Description

Bergenia ligulata, the elephant ear saxifrage or Pashanbheda, is a perennial herb of the family Saxifragaceae, native to the rocky, moss-covered limestone outcrops, cliff faces, and moist alpine slopes of the Himalayas — from Afghanistan through Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim to Bhutan and Nepal — at 1,000–3,800 metres. The name Pashanbheda — ‘breaker of stones’ — directly references its classical Ayurvedic application in preparations for urinary calculi (Ashmari). Documented in the Charaka Samhita and Ashtanga Hridayam, the rhizome is cited for diuretic, lithontriptic, and anti-inflammatory properties and is incorporated in formulations including Shilajit Rasayana compounds. This entry is a second listing (distinct from the Bergenia entry in the catalog) with identical botanical identity, reflecting its dual commercial designation in Indian herbal markets.